Regarding food, the taste can be a matter of debate. Meat lovers know exactly which meat is supposed to be what and what exactly brings the difference in the taste.
Some of us might think that Ham and Canadian bacon are almost similar in taste, texture, and appearance, but behold! There is a gulf separating the two distinguished food items, and they are not similar!
Their origin might be the same, but the place from where they are taken causes all the difference.
If you didn’t know, Canadian bacon is extracted from the “loin cut” that runs parallel to the pig‘s spine. On the other hand, ham is taken from the “primal cut”, which is the region of the leg, the back of the pig, and the shank region.
Where ham is extracted and shaped into dice-shaped pieces, slices, and whole form, Canadian bacon is extracted and transformed into sliced form only.
Here you already got the difference in their shapes and area of the extraction. Further, we will elaborately discuss the difference.
Key Takeaways
- Canadian bacon is a lean, cured meat made from the loin cut of a pig, resembling a small, round slice of ham.
- Ham is a cut of meat from the hind leg of a pig, sold cured, smoked, or both.
- Despite their similarities, Canadian bacon and ham come from different parts of the pig and have distinct textures and tastes.
Canadian Bacon vs Ham
The difference between Canadian Bacon and Ham is that ham is extracted from the “primal cut”, that is, the region of the leg, the back of the pig, and the shank region. In contrast, Canadian bacon is extracted from the “loin cut” parallel to the pig’s spine.
Both these extractions are then processed differently, and the shape and texture they acquire after processing is yet another point of difference between the two.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Canadian Bacon | Ham |
|---|---|---|
| Extraction | It is extracted from the “loin cut”, the region of the pig’s spine. | It is extracted from the “primal cut”, which is the region of the leg, back of the pig, and the shank region of the pig. |
| Shape | Shaped into dice or slices. | It is available in sliced form only. |
| Contents | Lower in carbohydrates and cholesterol. Does not contain sugar. | Contains sugar/honey. Rich in carbohydrates and cholesterol. |
| Time of consumption | Consumed in breakfast. | Consumed in dinner or lunch. |
| Serving | Served when soft and juicy. | Served hard. |
What is Canadian Bacon?
Canadian bacon is a salted and processed meat similar to the traditional bacon widely consumed in the United States. However, Canadian Bacon is cured and treated differently in Canada and the UK.
Canadian bacon cannot be served hard but only when soft and juicy; otherwise, the bacon might appear tasteless and dry.
The bacon is extracted from the “loin cut” that runs parallel to the spine of the pig, whereas ham is extracted from the “primal cut”, which includes the region of the leg, buttocks, and shank.
Unlike ham which is processed in dice-like shapes and slices, Canadian bacon is processed in sliced form only. Canadian bacon is never served hard but only when soft and pulpy for the right taste.
While ham carries honey or sugar, Canadian bacon does not have any of these.
It carries lesser calories than ham. Bacon is lower in carbohydrates and cholesterol concentration than ham. It is also known to contain more protein than ham.
What is Ham?
One concrete assumption that separates ham and Canadian bacon is their place of origin in the pit’s body. While Ham is taken from the posterior region of the legs, specifically the thighs and rear end of the pig,
Canadian bacon is extracted from the “loin cut” parallel to the pig’s spine. The difference in the location of the meat causes a huge difference in the method of manufacture and taste.
Ham comes from the animal’s body’s leg, thigh region, or rump.
While ham is known to carry honey or sugar, Canadian bacon does not carry any of these. Canadian bacon carries lesser calories than ham does.
Ham is famous worldwide and is understood as a different variety, geologically. The various kinds of hams are American ham, Spanish ham, or Chinese ham.
Ham undergoes several layers of preparation and processing to get shaped with the help of necessary mechanical processes and can be easily bought in grocery stores or meat shops as well-processed meat.
Main Differences Between Canadian Bacon and Ham
- While Canadian bacon is extracted from the “loin cut”, which is the region of the pig’s spine, ham is taken from the “primal cut”, which is the region of the leg, back of the pig, and the shank region.
- While Canadian bacon is shaped into dice or slices, Ham is only available in sliced form.
- Canadian bacon is lower in carbohydrates and cholesterol concentration than ham. Also, Canadian bacon does not contain sugar, while ham has sugar or honey.
- Canadian bacon is in breakfast, while ham is in lunch or dinner.
- Canadian bacon is only served when juicy and soft. Ham is served hard.
- https://academic.oup.com/jaoac/article-abstract/56/4/919/5711962
- https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=14790&context=rtd
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
I have to disagree with this article. I think the difference between Canadian bacon and ham is so minimal, it’s not worth discussing in such detail.
I can’t say I’m a fan of either Canadian bacon or ham, but this article was quite informative and well-researched.
This article is very informative. I always thought Canadian bacon and ham were the same, but I can see now that they are quite different.
This article seems very insightful to me. I never knew about the differences between Canadian bacon and ham. I’ve learned something new today.
The comparison between Canadian bacon and ham is quite obvious to me, but I can see how this detailed explanation would be helpful for others.
I appreciate the thorough comparison of Canadian bacon and ham. It’s nice to learn the nuances of different food products.
I’ve always been curious about the differences between Canadian bacon and ham, and this article has satisfied my curiosity. Well-written and informative.
I always enjoy learning about the origin and differences of food items. Very interesting read!
Exactly, it makes you appreciate the food we eat even more knowing the details behind their creation.
I’m glad this article has clarified the differences between Canadian bacon and ham. The details are very valuable for those interested in culinary knowledge.
This article provides a fascinating breakdown of Canadian bacon and ham. The attention to detail is impressive.